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Traveling_Famil's avatar
Traveling_Famil
Explorer
Jun 05, 2013

A truck camper with no propane vent for 5 years

Please, we could use some advice. We are looking at a camper that hasn't had a propane vent on it for at least 5 years in Oregon weather, and it rains all the time here. We figure that water had to go somewhere! We didn't lift the panel to look at what corrosion might be going on but will be headed back out this weekend to take a closer look. What exactly should we look for? Isn't it totally possible that the water leaked down to the box and it's rotting it out? The camper is still on the truck so it's hard to see that area of the camper. Plus, we figure the water is going exactly where you probably don't want water the most, straight to the electrical and gas components! Any suggestions/help/advice? Thanks!
Truck Campers

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  • Traveling_Famil's avatar
    Traveling_Famil
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2013
    You will have to excuse me for not being clear. Yes, I'm talking about the roof top vent for the fridge. Our other camper has a panel that goes to the back of the fridge... I'm not sure the camper we are checking out even has that panel. I'm thinking the water has got to be going down the back of the fridge, causing corrosion, and down through the bottom of the camper and rotting out the wood. Like I said, it's still on the current owner's truck. I'm thinking there's gotta be a lot of rot going on somewhere... 5 years is a lot of water.
  • DanoT's avatar
    DanoT
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2013
    ScottG wrote:
    Not sure what a propane vent is either. do you mean the roof top vent for the fridge? If so then I would pass it by. There would have to be a bunch of rot.


    After re-reading the OP post, I think it is the upper fridge vent that is missing so yeah if that is the case, then I agree, its a pass.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jun 05, 2013
    Not sure what a propane vent is either. do you mean the roof top vent for the fridge? If so then I would pass it by. There would have to be a bunch of rot.
  • Photomike's avatar
    Photomike
    Explorer III
    Jun 05, 2013
    Camp, Forrest, Camp! wrote:
    I'm with the second poster. What exactly is a propane vent?

    Upon reading the post again, are you talking about a cover where the fridge compartment vents through the roof?


    X3, My tc does not have a vent on the fridge (older model that just vented through the side covers) and for that matter does not have a vent on the propane door. I have no water or rust in either.
  • Camp__Forrest__'s avatar
    Camp__Forrest__
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2013
    I'm with the second poster. What exactly is a propane vent?

    Upon reading the post again, are you talking about a cover where the fridge compartment vents through the roof?
  • 69_Avion's avatar
    69_Avion
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2013
    In a wet environment with out a cover on the propane vent, there will be rotted wood, if the camper is wood framed. I had a broken plastic roof vent on my Avion, in Arizona, and I had some interior wood rotted away. Fortunately for me, my vinyl floor kept the water from ruining the structural wood.
    Make sure you check in out carefully.
  • sleepy's avatar
    sleepy
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2013
    You aren't very clear in what you are talking about to me.

    The Propane storage box has a vent in the bottom... propane is heavier than air... "IF" there is a propane leak at the tank or regulator it flows our the bottom of the storage box.

    Places that propane is used include: generators, refridgerators, stoves, furnaces, and catalytc heaters.

    What is you are lifting

    ... is it the door to the propane tank?

    there is no roof vent for propane.

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